How GED Students Are Evaluated

General Education Diploma (GED) programs in the United States have an excellent testing instrument, called TABE, that is used to pre-test and post-test every student. GED instructors administer initial, mid-year, and end-of year tests to measure student gains.

After a student enrolls in a class, he or she is given a "Locator Test." This is a short test that helps determine which TABE test is needed: easy, medium, difficult, or advanced.

An instructor trained specifically to administer the TABE test is able to test several students, at different levels, at the same time. Students are tested in Social Studies, Science, Language Arts, and Math. Each section of the test is timed. The timing can be challenging for instructors, because completion times are different between test levels. Sometimes instructors gather several students at the same level to make testing easier.

The TABE test is worth its weight in gold. Test results pinpoint exactly where a student should begin working. For example, a student may pass basic math skills and is ready to begin geometry. Another student may need to work on long division. An individual plan of study, based on TABE test results, is developed by the instructor for each student. Students do not have to waste time on skills already learned, and they do not have to struggle with material that is too advanced.

Students are able to look at their plan and know exactly what they are shooting for. It is less overwhelming to think about mastery of one skill at a time rather than thinking about an entire subject area. Instructors update student plans on a regular basis, and find resources to compliment what is being learned.

Some students take the TABE and the results show a high enough score to take the GED examination. These students are immediately scheduled for the exam. The GED examination is made up of five subject areas: Language Arts (Reading), Language Arts (Writing), Math, Social Studies, and Science. The exam is administered at another testing site, often a college or university.

Mid-year and end-of-year testing lets students and staff know of progress. GED students tend to frustrate easily. They benefit from seeing any gains via TABE. Students who have not been working very hard are encouraged to "pick up the pace" and do better the next time. In addition, an instructor is held accountable by the TABE. If a whole roomful of students show gains in mastery, the instructor is validated. On the other hand, if everyone is sinking, the instructor may want to look into another line of work!